The U.S. Supreme Court’s blockage of a Colorado ban on conversion therapy for minors poses a very real danger and puts young people’s lives at risk, warns DignityUSA. The group is the world’s oldest organization of Catholics working for justice, equality, and full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the church and society.

“Throughout our more than 57 years of ministry, we have worked with hundreds of LGBTQ+ people who have undergone conversion therapy,” said DignityUSA executive director Marianne Duddy-Burke. “Every one of them described it as a dehumanizing, horrific experience. Not only was it ineffective at changing their sexual orientation or gender identity, but it resulted in deep shame that many tried to treat with alcohol, drugs, or even suicide attempts. It took years to recover, in most cases. Tragically, there are many who did not survive the trauma. There is a good reason that 27 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and 28 countries ban this pseudo-scientific practice.

“It is extremely concerning that eight of the nine Justices fail to recognize the difference between an individual’s free speech right and their professional obligations,” said Duddy-Burke. “Dozens of mental health and medical professional organizations either ban or have policies against using conversion therapy, especially on children, because they recognize the threat to health and safety that it poses. When someone is treating a vulnerable person, they must uphold the highest ethical treatment standards. Conversion therapy fails to meet that threshold.”

DignityUSA and Dignity Denver had both filed amicus briefs in this case. Duddy-Burke continued: “Our faith and our experience of ministering with LGBTQ+ people compelled us to support the Colorado ban on this harmful practice. An noted in our anti-conversion therapy publication Made in the Image of God, we believe that gay and transgender people know who God created them to be and should be supported in living into the fullness of life that all people deserve. Any attempt to pressure people into living in a way that violates their deepest self-knowledge is dangerous. Today’s decision means that we must work harder to protect and support our community.”

Duddy-Burke also noted the painful irony that this decision comes on International Transgender Visibility Day. “Given all the pressure that Trans people are already facing,” she stated, “the timing of this decision feels particularly cruel. For young people discerning their gender identity, the fact that our Supreme Court announced this ruling today adds even more anxiety and fear. Many will believe that they have no safety net at the time they need it most.”

DignityUSA urges everyone to continue the work of ensuring that all who need mental health support can access people committed to the well-being of their clients rather than to the promotion of harmful ideologies. It also pledges to continue to work for the prevention of conversion therapy, as it has been doing since California introduced legislation to ban the practice in 2012.